Libby Doggett, deputy assistant secretary for policy and early learning in the United State Department of Education, will be the keynote speaker at one of five commencement ceremonies to be held at Texas State University on Friday, Dec. 12 and Saturday, Dec. 13, in the university’s Strahan Coliseum.

Doggett will speak during the 3 p.m. ceremony Dec. 12, to be attended by degree candidates from the College of Fine Arts and Communication and the Graduate College.

Degree candidates from the College of Applied Arts, College of Health Professions and the Graduate College will attend the 6 p.m. commencement ceremony Dec. 12.

Degree candidates from the McCoy College of Business Administration, College of Science and Engineering and the Graduate College will attend the 10 a.m. ceremony Dec. 13.

Degree candidates from the College of Education, University College and the Graduate College will attend the 2 p.m. ceremony Dec. 13.

Degree candidates from the College of Liberal Arts and the Graduate College will attend the 6 p.m. ceremony Dec. 13.

More than 3,100 students are candidates for undergraduate and graduate degrees at Texas State this fall.

Before joining the Department of Education, Doggett was the director of the Pew Charitable Trusts home visiting campaign where she oversaw a robust research agenda and worked with advocates in target states to build political and public understanding and support for data-driven investments that align with federal guidance. Prior to that Doggett directed Pre-K Now, a 10-year campaign to advance high-quality, voluntary pre-kindergarten for all three- and four-year-olds in states across the country. Doggett also worked for the National Head Start Association, directing their HeadsUp! reading program to improve literacy instruction in early learning classrooms across the country.

In her home state of Texas, Doggett ran a home visiting program for infants and toddlers with disabilities living in the Texas Hill Country, after which she served as the executive director of the Arc of Texas, an advocacy group for children with developmental disabilities. Doggett began her career as a bilingual first grade teacher at Ortega Elementary School in Austin.

Doggett holds a doctorate from the University of Texas in early childhood special education. During her undergraduate years at the University of Texas, she met her husband Lloyd Doggett, currently a U.S. Representative from Texas and a senior member on the ways and means committee.